The award is given to a Colorado leader who has demonstrated a commitment to teachers and an ability to unite educators, philanthropists, business and political leaders to improve education for children in Colorado.

The Isenbergs are key supporters of a number of nonprofit organizations that focus on education, kids and health, including Denver Scholarship Foundation, Children’s Hospital Colorado, National Jewish Health and the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes.

RAFT, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, provides Colorado teachers with affordable, unusual resources to transform their classrooms into hands-on learning environments. The Denver warehouse is one of only three in the country.

Locally, teachers spend about $500 of their own money every year on classroom materials. By shopping at RAFT, they are able to purchase unique items at costs that are between 80 and 90 percent less than retail prices.

RAFT gathers unwanted items ranging from VHS tapes and CDs to staple removers and water bottles and converts them into innovative learning activities for teachers to incorporate into their lesson plans.

The UPCYCLE gala has raised some $400,000 for RAFT since its start in 2011. One of RAFT’s backers, state Sen. Mike Johnston, served as master of ceremonies for the 2014 gala that was held in the RAFT warehouse at 3827 Steele St.

David Goldberg and Jenn Dorsey (Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post)

If you snooze you lose, or so the saying goes. Especially on PJ Day in Denver when the biggest of the big slip into their jammies for a very good cause.

There’s no covering up, either. They wear ‘em to lunch at the Capital Grille, to a bed race on the Metro State campus, on a PJ Crawl in three trendy neighborhoods, and to the centerpiece event in this multi-faceted benefit for Denver’s Road Home: the Mayor’s PJ Party at the Residence Inn at 17th and Champa.

It’s a hoot, all right, one that gets better every year.

The 500-plus at the Residence Inn fandango dined on breakfast favorites — things like shrimp and grits from the Corner Office, eggs Benedict from Second Home and pancakes from Snooze — while checking out who was wearing what.

Gov. John Hickenlooper wore the hand-made, red flannel nightshirt that he wore in the event’s first year; Mayor Bill Vidal wore a copy of it that Hickenlooper had presented to him at a ceremonial “passing of the PJs” held earlier in the week.

Former Children’s Museum chief Tom Downey, a candidate for Denver Clerk and Recorder, was in comfy flannel PJs, as were his daughters: Cate, 9; Ella, 6; and Meg, 3. Deidre Hunter was pretty in pink, listening as her husband, Shawn, who’d just been appointed CEO of the Quizno’s Pro Challenge bike race, said race organizers would donate $1 for every start/finish line spectator, up to $250,000, to Denver’s Road Home, a partnership between the City and County of Denver and Mile High United Way that began when Hickenlooper was mayor. Its goal is to end homelessness in Denver within 10 years.

In the six years since its start, PJ Day has raised over $2 million, thanks to the enthusiasm and support of such major players as Sage Hospitality’s Walter Isenberg and developer Evan Makovsky. They were among the first to embrace the idea and they didn’t hesitate to recruit many of their high-powered friends.

John and Carrie Morgridge, for example, couldn’t be there, but sent word they’d be giving $250,000 to the cause.

United Way’s leader, Christine Benero, also wore a replica of Hickenlooper’s night shirt, as did DRH executive director Amber Callender.

Kristopher Klain of The Capital Grille accepts trophy for the longest ride from Molly Hughes of CBS4, left, and Kelly Ford of KYGO. Photo by Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post

Steaks served at The Capital Grille are as prime as they can be; so why was honcho Kristopher Klain kicking the tires on a mechanical bull the other night?
Relax. It’s because he’d entered a contest to see who could stay aboard the bucking monster the longest — a contest he eventually won. His 50.1-second ride left the 19 other competitors in the dust.
The ride was part of the fifth Country Western Showcase, and raised $27,000 for Concerts For Kids. It was held at the Grizzly Rose with KYGO personality Kelly Ford serving as mistress of ceremonies. Founded by Christie and Walter Isenberg, Concerts For Kids is a nonprofit organization that raises money for local children’s charities, especially those focusing on health and education. It also hosts a number of community service programs and operates Tiri’s Garden in downtown Denver. CFK also was a recipient of the 2010 Martin Luther King Social Responsibility Award.
In addition to the bull-riding contest, the Country Western Showcase featured music by Reckless Kelly and Coles Whalen; appearances by Denver Broncos Cheerleaders Amanda Lofland and Liz Harris and firefighters Parker Wise, Cody McGinnis and Nick Fox, whose images appear on the 2010 Fired Up For Kids calendar.
This year’s bull riding contestants were Chandler Smith, director of The Denver Post’s annual Ride the Rockies; Dale DeLeo of Europa Escape Landscaping; Dan Kummet of Axess Communications; David Fine, Denver City Attorney; Dustin Kammerer from HOT 107.1; George Stein of the Dream Big Day Camp; Janelle Spahn of Colorado Sports Rent; Janice Sinden of Colorado Concern; John Greenwood of Proxy Partners; and Lori Baker of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
Also, Marc Spritzer of CoBiz Financial; Michael VanGilder of the VanGilder Companies; Mike Morrissey of Gallegos Masonry; Mike Roque of the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships; Peter Ore of Live Nation; RD Sewald, director of legislative services/council liaison for Mayor John Hickenlooper; Todd Tantillo of Fitness Together; and Zac Davis of HOT 107.1.

As frequent benefit-goers know, trading pajamas for party clothes can sometimes be a real hassle. Not so when Mayor John Hickenlooper, Walter Isenberg, Evan Makovsky and others committed to ending homelessness in Denver host their annual wing-ding at the downtown Residence Inn.
PJs are the suggested dress, and most everyone obliges by showing up in Dr. Dentons or something similar to kick back and have some fun while raising big bucks — this year, $200,000 — for Denver’s Road Home.
The previous two years, the mayor has worn a red flannel night shirt made for him by his mother some 25 years ago. But this year, his 5-year-old son, Teddy, insisted he wear the snowman pajamas that had been the family’s holiday sleepwear choice.
His main role at the party?
With many guests opting for higher-priced tickets that included an overnight at the Residence Inn (developers Isenberg and Makovsky donated all room proceeds for that night to the cause), Hickenlooper didn’t have to be asked twice to record the greeting that those requesting wakeup calls heard the following morning.
Hickenlooper also presented an award to Jim Polsfut for his commitment to Denver’s Road Home, an initiative that has already reduced the number of homeless by 11 percent. Polsfut chairs the community appeals team for Denver’s Road Home, and attended the party with his 14-year-old son, Javier.
The 500-plus guests were treated to comfort food from Three Tomatoes catering; the buffet tables were stocked with green chile, fondue, cupcakes and lollipops. A silent auction included pajamas autographed by the Colorado Rockies’ 2007 World Series team, Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and feminist Gloria Steinem.
There also was a raffle, and 10-year-old Molly Lucas appeared to be the champion ticket-seller with sales of $600 a good hour before the drawing was conducted.
Drag queen Nuclia Waste was there out of drag but colorful as always in pink flamingo PJs and his “killer rabbit” slippers. Denver City Councilwoman Marcia Johnson was “Your Worst Nightmare” with her face smeared with a pea-green masque and cucumber slices decorating the sleep mask worn headband-style just above her forehead. Bonfils-Stanton Foundation President Dorothy Horrell was the exact opposite: elegant in navy blue silk pajamas with matching robe and perfectly coiffed hair.
Other familiar faces in the crowd: Roxane White, Denver’s manager of human services; Jamie Van Leeuwen, project manager for Denver’s Road Home; Debbie Ortega, executive director of the Commission to End Homelessness; City Council members Carla Madison and Doug Linkhart; Barry Hirschfeld; Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership; Gary Renville, director of development and marketing for Metro Volunteers; Josh Hanfling; Christie Isenberg; Evi Makovsky; Leanna Clark, co-owner of Schenkein public relations; and Robbie and Sharon Hahn.

Pictures taken at the Mayor’s Pajama Party can be seen at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.

There are many reasons Kelly and K.C. Gallagher offered to host the kickoff party for the 2007 Children’s Hospital Gala — it’s one of their favorite causes, they have a home made for entertaining, stuff like that. But we’re willing to wager that the most important reason is because K.C.’s sister and brother-in-law, Kelly and Michael Kennedy, are the gala chairs. Read more…

As I recall, they’re red flannel.
How do I know? Because I was one of the 500 who attended the inaugural Pajama Party at the Residence Inn Denver City Center, a fund-raiser for which there’s literally no need to dress up.
Sage Hospitality operates the hotel, and boss Walter Isenberg came up with the clever idea to celebrate the opening of this all-suite venue at 1725 Champa St. while raising money for Denver’s Road Home, an initiative to end homelessness in Denver within the decade.
The party was such a smash that Isenberg decided to do it again. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Residence Inn; the goal is to raise $100,000 for Denver’s Road Home.
Mayor John Hickenlooper will be there in his pajamas; so, too, will Andrew Hudson, whose Mistura Fina Jazz Band will provide the music.
Tickets are $50 each, but for a $250 donation you get admission for two and an overnight stay at the hotel. All tickets include a martini bar, comfort food buffet, valet parking and a pajama contest. If yours are too ratty for a public outing, buy a new set at Octane, Violet or Eve in Larimer Square and the owners will donate 10 percent from each sale to the cause.Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. Last year, she wasn’t sure if anyone would actually show up in pajamas so she attended the party in her work clothes. After seeing how many did come in their nighties, she bought some leopard-print PJs and plans to wear them on Thursday night. Or maybe not.